Genesis 43

I.                 Jacob resists sending Benjamin to Egypt (Genesis 43:1-14)

a.      Genesis 43:1 – And the famine [was] sore in the land.

·        It’s amazing to what extent God will go in order to accomplish His plan.

·        Why a famine?  Why does God choose certain methods to accomplish His plan?

·        God’s plan entails more than just what we see, more than just moving Israel to Egypt, more than just elevating Joseph to his position of authority.  There are so many things happening here that we are not made aware that bring about the complete plan of God.

·        With God it seems that His methods are as important as the results.

·        This can also represent in the material realm those things that will happen in the spiritual realm.

o       Amos 8:11-12 - Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find [it].

b.      Genesis 43:2 – And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

·        Luke 12:29-31 - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.  But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

·        Jacob demonstrates the flaw so many of us do today, if we ignore a problem long enough we think it will somehow go away.

o       Easy for us to say in retrospect, we know that its Joseph in Egypt and not a foreign king as Jacob believes.

·        Jacob does not demonstrate the faith that Abraham had, he has a hard time trusting God (probably because of circumstances in the past)

·        How often do we let past circumstances affect our faith and trust in the Lord? 

c.      Genesis 43:3 – And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother [be] with you.

·        Of all the brothers Judah was the one with enough courage to confront his father.

·        How often are we afraid to confront someone with bad news?

d.      Genesis 43:4 – If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

·        We’ve been given clear direction on what we must do, we’ll do what you ask, but the rules were given to us.

e.      Genesis 43:5 – But if thou wilt not send [him], we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother [be] with you.

·        We’re not going to waste our time traveling all the way to Egypt only to be turned away because we have not complied with the request of the ruler.

·        How often do we ignore the commands of God spelled out in Scripture and do what we think God wants us to do?  And then think that it is pleasing to God. 

o       Deuteronomy 4:30-31 - When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, [even] in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God [is] a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

f.       Genesis 43:6 – And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me, [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

·        Jacob now resorts to blaming, “why did you tell him you had a brother?”

·        First defensive tactic…ignore problem, second…blame others

g.      Genesis 43:7 – And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, [Is] your father yet alive? have ye [another] brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

h.     Genesis 43:8 – And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, [and] also our little ones.

·        We begin to see Judah emerge as a leader among the brothers

·        He is speaking prudently, either we stay here and all die with no chance of survival or we take Benjamin and at least have hope that the man will keep his word.

i.       Genesis 43:9 – I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

·        Judah bears responsibility for Benjamin’s safety

·        Ironic that it was Judah who made the suggestion to sell Joseph into bondage

j.       Genesis 43:10 – For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

k.      Genesis 43:11 – And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

·        Thus international trade was introduced to the world

·        Proverbs 18:16 - A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

·        Proverbs 21:14 - A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

o       Where Jacob may lack in faith he more than compensates in wisdom

o       We must understand that faith is given by God and everyone has a different measure.  When we lack faith we need just spend time in God's Word and our faith will increase.

§        How do we increase our faith?

-        Romans 10:17 - So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

§        How do we increase wisdom?

-        James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

l.       Genesis 43:12 – And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry [it] again in your hand; peradventure it [was] an oversight:

·        Jacob is taking every precaution to ensure his sons safety

·        He again demonstrates a lack of faith in God and a reliance on his own abilities in sticky situations. 

m.    Genesis 43:13 – Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

·        Sometimes God has to eliminate every option so you choose His will.

·        Jacob finally relents when he has exhausted all other options

·        How often do we fight against God’s will until there are no other options then we ask ourselves “why didn’t I do this in the first place?”

n.     Genesis 43:14 – And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved [of my children], I am bereaved.

·        Notice here finally Jacob invokes God’s mercy upon his sons’ dealings with Joseph.  Little does He know God has already answered the prayer!

·        Bereaved - שכל shakol, verb, to be bereaved, make childless, miscarry

·        Joseph, by the power of God, has been given control over these circumstances, Jacob has not.  This is a perfect illustration of how God, having complete control, waits on us to relinquish control before He acts.  Joseph could not bestow his mercy upon his brothers until Jacob allowed them to come back to Egypt.

o       Sometimes we just have to let go…

II.               Brothers return to Egypt (Genesis 43:15-25)

a.      Genesis 43:15 – And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

b.      Genesis 43:16 – And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring [these] men home, and slay, and make ready; for [these] men shall dine with me at noon.

·        Note that before he ordered his servant to make preparations he verified that Benjamin was in fact with them, Joseph was a man of his word and likely would not have accepted them if they did not honor the deal.

·        12:00 for 12 brothers

c.      Genesis 43:17 – And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

d.      Genesis 43:18 – And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

·        Fear is such a natural response to anything new or unfamiliar.

·        Jesus continually tells His followers to fear not.

·        Our own imagination is are sometime our worst enemy.

o       Romans 1:21 - Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

e.      Genesis 43:19 – And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

f.       Genesis 43:20 – And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

g.      Genesis 43:21 – And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, [every] man's money [was] in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

h.     Genesis 43:22 – And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

i.       Genesis 43:23 – And he said, Peace [be] to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

·        What does Joseph’s servant know about the God of Israel?

·        Quite a bold and prophetic statement

j.       Genesis 43:24 – And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave [them] water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

·        Sounds like a full service gas station of antiquity:

o       check the fluids,

o       wash the windshield/check the tires and

o       fuel the vehicle

k.      Genesis 43:25 – And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

·        They prepared the present for Joseph’s noon arrival

III.             Joseph meets with his brothers (Genesis 43:26-34)

a.      Genesis 43:26 – And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which [was] in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

b.      Genesis 43:27 – And he asked them of [their] welfare, and said, [Is] your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? [Is] he yet alive?

·        Still trying to retain his cover by stating “The old man of whom you spoke”

·        Trying to hide his anxiousness to see his father

c.      Genesis 43:28 – And they answered, Thy servant our father [is] in good health, he [is] yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

·        Again fulfilling Joseph’s original dreams

d.      Genesis 43:29 – And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, [Is] this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

·        Joseph had not seen Benjamin except possibly as an infant

e.      Genesis 43:30 – And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought [where] to weep; and he entered into [his] chamber, and wept there.

·        All sorts of emotions going through Joseph here, but he had a plan to test his brothers and had to pull it together and regain his composure if it were to be a successful test.

·        This portrays how Our Lord Jesus yearns for us, but must first allow God’s plan to run its course.

f.       Genesis 43:31 – And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

g.      Genesis 43:32 – And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

·        Revelation 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

·        Why was it an abomination for the Egyptians to sit with the Hebrews? Obviously cultural differences at the time, but could it be also that they represented that which is born of the spirit and Israel represented that which is of the flesh?

o       John 3:6-7 - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

o       John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…

h.     Genesis 43:33 – And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

i.       Genesis 43:34 – And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

·        Five, the number of grace, Benjamin has grace bestowed upon him from his brother Joseph

·        This points back to the v.29 blessing Joseph said to Benjamin, God be gracious unto thee…”  Joseph is now administering God’s grace on Benjamin.

·        This could also have served as a test of Joseph’s brothers in that he would observe their countenance to see if there was any jealousy.  Remember that is what drove them against Joseph was their jealousy of their father’s favor.